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L’Arche Faith & Sharing Retreat Celebrates 50 Year Anniversary
Clair Donovan, Vancouver
Volume 32 Issue 10, 11 & 12 | Posted: December 19, 2018
The first Faith and Sharing retreat was given by Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche, in 1968 near Toronto. When asked by the local bishop to lead a retreat for Roman Catholic clergy, Jean Vanier insisted that a cross section of people be invited to make the retreat along with the clergy. This reflected the insight that he learned living with people with disabilities in L’Arche, that we are all have unique gifts and that God’s love is revealed in the marginalized of the world. After that first retreat, Jean Vanier led other retreats across Canada, encouraging groups to form and continue holding retreats in the spirit of that first retreat.
The first Faith and Sharing retreat was given by Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche, in 1968 near Toronto. When asked by the local bishop to lead a retreat for Roman Catholic clergy, Jean Vanier insisted that a cross section of people be invited to make the retreat along with the clergy. This reflected the insight that he learned living with people with disabilities in L’Arche, that we are all have unique gifts and that God’s love is revealed in the marginalized of the world. After that first retreat, Jean Vanier led other retreats across Canada, encouraging groups to form and continue holding retreats in the spirit of that first retreat.
This year marks the 50th anniversary since the first retreat. All twelve active groups across North America celebrated – from Nova Scotia and Florida to Northern Quebec, Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit and Vancouver Island. Faith and Sharing retreats have been happening on Vancouver Island, since 1974, after a group attended a retreat animated by Jean Vanier in Vancouver. They returned to Vancouver Island and encouraged by Bishop Remi De Roo, a vibrant group developed.
Over the years, the Vancouver Island group has held retreats welcoming all and finding ways to offer this retreat experience to prison inmates, homeless people, single parents, people with disabilities and people with addictions, all of whom aren’t usually able to afford or find the supports they need to make a retreat. Childrens’ and youth programs are often included to provide for their special needs and further broaden the community's diversity.
The Vancouver Island group has held 5-day summer retreats at Bethlehem Centre since 1989 with generous subsidies from the Benedictine sisters which have kept registration costs down and make the retreat affordable to those with limited incomes. The Bethlehem Centre, now sold and run by a non-profit organization, continues to sponsor the Faith and Sharing summer retreat and this year the Sisters of St Ann in Victoria and the Vancouver Island Catholic Foundation provided additional sponsorship.
This August, 50 people made the retreat with the theme “Your presence is the Gift”. On the afternoon of August 16th, a 50th anniversary celebration was held. We opened the doors to former retreatants and our sponsors to come celebrate with us in a lay-led service, fellowship and cake. It was an honour to have Bishop Remi De Roo, who encouraged our community’s beginnings in 1974, to join us. During our service, cards and pens were handed out and we were asked to reflect and write down our response to the question “What is the gift that Faith and Sharing has been to you?”
Each person was then invited to come forward and pin their card on a banner. The banner was repurposed from the 1983 Faith and Sharing retreat held at the University of Victoria, BC which Jean Vanier animated.
Sixty-two cards in total were created with these words and sayings on them: appreciation – belonging – calling – caring – community – encouragement – everything – faith – family – fellowship – forgiveness – friendship – frolic – giving – happy – hope – Jesus – joy – love – loving – music – open heart – peace – place – renewal – sharing – simplicity – spiritual home – support – truth – wonder – a way of live and path to wisdom – a fully human, fully alive community where everyone is welcome, everyone is a friend and everyone belongs – a week of kindness – beauty of place and people – being inclusive – Faith and Sharing has given me joy, fun, Jesus and friends – Faith and Sharing has given me my new and old friends and it has made me happy – friends of community – gift of understanding and compassion – giving my time and myself to the people – hope for unity – I am awesome! – I love being here with my best friends, Michael and Susan – intimate friendships – it is the call of Faith and Sharing which is my life – my openness and faithfulness – Jesus present in my brothers and sisters – love my sisters and brothers in Jesus – the ability to let go – we are a faith and sharing family – my presence, also WIFI – opening my heart and my eyes – my spiritual roots and foundation in God’s fellowship from age 6 to 51 – reunion with family – the beautiful spirit and energy that you bring here – the gift of love, thank you faith and sharing – the power of love, love one another. Wow! So many gifts that our Faith and Sharing community has been and is to so many people.
Clair Donovan, Vancouver